Lawn refuse bag holder and accessories

ABSTRACT

An improved device for holding refuse bags and accessories. This device has nine bends forming a top section and a bottom section. The top section is connected to the bottom section with two legs. Another embodiment has a bottom section and a top section. The bottom section is larger than the top section and four legs connect each section. The four legs extend outward from the top section as they connect to the bottom section. Each device has a funnel or tabletop accessory that connects to the top section.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Application No. 60/711,852, which was filed on Aug. 26, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to lawn or gardening devices for home or business, and more particularly to a lightweight and portable self-supporting framework and system for retaining collapsible bags, such as paper or plastic leaf and lawn bags, in an open and extended position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When collecting and disposing of yard waste, such as lawn clippings or fallen leaves, and other refuse or debris, home or business owners use collapsible plastic or paper bags. There are several inherent difficulties in using such collapsible bags. Primarily, it is difficult to retain the mouth of the bag in an open position so as to be able to fill it with yard waste. It is equally difficult to retain the bag in an extended position so that yard waste already deposited into the bag does not fall out or the bag itself does not tip over and have its contents strewn everywhere.

A variety of concepts have been developed that attempt to address the problems associated with supporting such yard refuse bags. For example, a holder using a hoop for retaining the mouth of a trash bag in a fully open position has been developed.

Such holder uses a pair of axially spaced hoops connected by a series of flat metal strips arcuately bent around the hoops. The hoops are used in combination with an externally applied circumferentially applied coil spring band nested therebetween designed to overlay and retain the edge of the mouth of an open bag placed over the hoop structure. This, however, does not address the problems with holding the bag in an upright position and preventing it from falling over onto itself.

Another system involves a conical rigid pipe frame structure in the form of a rack for supporting garbage or trash cans. The can is retained by its own weight. Side handles are captured beneath the top hook to lock the can in the frame. This, however, requires a hard-shelled trashcan. It does not support a bag.

None of the present devices provides the combined attributes of a self-contained, light portable and self-supporting system for both supporting a bag and maintaining the mouth of the bag in an open position for filling. Such a device, particularly one that is inexpensive and easily fabricated would be very practical.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical front view of an embodiment of a lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical view of an accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical top view of an embodiment of the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical side view of an accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical top view of the accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical side view of a second accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical top view of a second accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical side view of an embodiment of the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIGS. 9-10 are diagrammatical views of the accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention;

FIGS. 11-13 are diagrammatical view of a second accessory used with the lawn refuse bag holder of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the present invention is described with reference to the embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present invention should not be limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments herein is illustrative of the present invention and should not limit the scope of the invention as claimed.

Reference will now be made in detail to one of the embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In accordance with the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a lawn refuse bag holder 10. The lawn refuse bag holder 10 comprises a top section 20 and a bottom support section 30. The bottom support section 30 has a larger perimeter than does the top section 20. In an embodiment of the lawn refuse bag holder 10, the perimeter of the bottom support section 30 is 20-50% larger than the perimeter of the top section 20. This permits that lawn refuse bag holder 10 to stand upright. Additionally, it makes the lawn refuse bag holder 10 difficult to tip over. This in turn allows a user to fill bags attached to the lawn refuse bag holder 10 without requiring them to balance the load in the bag. This makes it much simpler to use.

The lawn refuse bag holder 10 further comprises a pair of legs 40 that support the top section 20. The legs 40 are sufficiently rigid to hold the top section 20 in place. The legs 40 are sufficiently tall to allow for all different length bags to be attached to the lawn refuse bag holder 10 to be filled. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the legs 40 angle toward one another from the bottom section 30 to the top section 20. This also aids in the stability of the lawn refuse bag holder 10, making it more difficult to tip.

The lawn refuse bag holder 10 may be made of metal, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc. or another material, such as plastic or hard rubber. In one embodiment, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 may be a single-continuous piece that is bent into shape to form the refuse bag holder 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. More specifically, three approximately ninety degree bends are made to form the top section 20. Then another approximately ninety degree bend is made that is perpendicular to the first three bends to form the first leg 41 of the pair of legs 40. Then a fifth approximately ninety-degree bend is made to end the leg 41 and begin the bottom support section 30 formation. Two more approximately ninety degree bends are made to create the bottom support section 30. These bends are perpendicular to the bend for the leg 41 and parallel to the bends for the top section 20. Finally, an eighth approximately ninety-degree bend is made to finish the second leg 42 of the pair of legs 40. This bend is perpendicular to the fifth bend and parallel to the bend for the other leg 41. Finally, the second end of the metal piece ends at the top section 20 to form the lawn refuse bag holder 10.

Alternatively, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 may be made from a plurality of components. These components would be attached together by, for example, welding, bolting, fusing, or otherwise attaching. Therefore, several pieces could be welded together to form the top section 20, the bottom section 30, and the legs 40.

In another embodiment, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 may have four separate legs 61, 63, 65, 67. This is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the legs 61, 63, 65, 67 are attached to the top section 20 by such processes as welding, fusing, bolting, or otherwise attached. The legs 61, 63, 65, 67 extend from the top section 20 similar to the legs 40 of the previous embodiment. That is, they are angled outward so as to create a very stable base that keeps the lawn refuse bag holder 10 in an upright position and prevents it from tipping over. The bottom of the legs 61, 63, 65, 67 are attached to the bottom section 30 in a manner similar to the attachment to the top section 20.

Alternatively, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 may merely use the legs 61, 63, 65, 67 without the bottom section 30. Everything previously described would be the same, i.e., the legs 61, 63, 65, 67 attach to the top section 30. The legs 61, 63, 65, 67 would angle outward as previously described. They would, however, rest directly upon the ground to create four contact points to keep the lawn refuse bag 10 upright.

Regardless of which embodiment is used, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 is structured so that it is easily stackable. This makes it very easy to store and transport the lawn refuse bag holder 10. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the top section 20 is smaller than the bottom section 30. The bottom section 30, therefore, can easily fit over the top section 20 so as to make the lawn refuse bag holder 10 easily stackable. Additionally, with the legs 61, 63, 65, 67 angled outward, this area is larger than the top section 20. Again, this makes the lawn refuse bag holder 10 easily stackable. Therefore, regardless of which embodiment is used, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 is stackable.

In yet another embodiment, the legs 40 or the legs 61, 63, 65, 67 may include wheels. The wheels will make it even easier for an operator to move the lawn refuse bag holder 10 from place to place. The user can lean the lawn refuse bag holder 10 a bit to operate the wheels and can use a portion of the top section 20 as a handle to move the lawn refuse bag holder 10.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 9, and 10, the lawn refuse bag holder 10 may include a refuse funnel 80. The refuse funnel 80 comprises a top section 83 that has sloping walls 84 that angle inward toward a bottom section 85. The top section 83, therefore, includes a wide mouth 87 and an exit aperture 89. The wide mouth 87 is much wider than the bottom section 85 as well as the top section 20 of the lawn refuse bag holder 10. This makes it easier for a user to insert refuse into the lawn refuse bag holder 10 as the user has more surface area in which to insert refuse. The inserted refuse will merely slide down the sloped walls 84 of the refuse funnel 80 and through the exit aperture 89 into the bag held by the lawn refuse bag holder 10.

The bottom section 85 of the refuse funnel 80 is sized and shaped to mate with the top section 20 of the lawn refuse bag holder 10. This permits the refuse funnel 80 to securely fit on top of the lawn refuse bag holder 10, while also allowing it to be easily removable therefrom.

The refuse funnel 80 may be made of any material, such as metal, rubber, or even plastic. It is most preferably made from plastic because this makes it very light and easily useable.

A second accessory is shown in FIGS. 6-7 and 11-13. This second accessory is a tabletop accessory 90. The table top accessory 90 includes a table top portion 92, which can also include a drink holder 92 formed therein, and a bottom section 94 that matingly fits with the top section 20 of the lawn refuse bag holder 10, similar to the refuse funnel 80. When the tabletop accessory 90 is positioned on the lawn refuse bag holder 10, the combination can be used as a table that is particularly useful when gardening. It allows a user to not only store and place tools, but also to pot plants, prepare garden plans, and even eat lunch. In order to use the lawn refuse bag holder 10 to gather refuse, a user merely needs to lift off the table top accessory 90 and store it.

The tabletop accessory 90 may be made of wood, rubber, metal, or plastic. It is preferably made of plastic as plastic is light and easily useable.

To use the lawn refuse bag holder 10, a user puts a bag in the center of the top section 20 allowing it to fall through. As seen in FIGS. 2, 9, and 10, the bag can be a plastic bag 13, a paper bag 12, or even a canvas bag. Next, the user can: fold the bag over the top section 20; tie the bag to the top section 20; or can attach it to the top section 20 by another means. The user can now fill the bag with lawn refuse.

Alternatively, the refuse funnel 80 may be placed on the top section 20 of the lawn refuse bag holder 10. In this case, the user merely inserts the refuse, such as the leaves seen in FIG. 9, into the larger cross-sectional area of the refuse funnel 80 and it falls into the bag held by the lawn refuse bag holder 10.

The invention has been described above and, obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof. 

1. A lawn refuse bag holder comprising: three approximately ninety degree bends are made to form a top section; another approximately ninety-degree bend is made that is perpendicular to said first three bends to form the first leg of the pair of legs; a fifth approximately ninety-degree bend is made to end said first leg and begins a bottom support section formation; two more approximately ninety degree bends are made to create said bottom support section, wherein said two more bends are perpendicular to the bend for said first leg and parallel to said bends for said top section; an eighth approximately ninety-degree bend is made to finish a second leg of said pair of legs, wherein said eighth bend is perpendicular to said fifth bend and parallel to said bend for said first leg; and said eighth bend that ends at said top section.
 2. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 1 further comprising a table top accessory.
 3. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 2, wherein the table top accessory comprises a mating section to mate with said top section.
 4. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 1 further comprising a bag attached to said top section.
 5. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 1 further comprising a funnel attached to said top section.
 6. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 5, wherein said funnel comprises a mating section to mate to said top section.
 7. A lawn refuse bag holder comprising: a top section, a bottom section connected to said top section by four legs, said four legs angled outward from said top section to said bottom section; wherein said bottom section is larger than said top section; and an accessory, said accessory comprising a mating section to mate said accessory with said top section.
 8. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 7 further comprising a bag attached to said top section.
 9. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 7 wherein said accessory is a funnel attached to said top section.
 10. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 7 further comprising wheels connected to said four legs.
 11. The lawn refuse bag holder of claim 7 further comprising wheels attached to said bottom section. 